Sacramento County, California facts for kids

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Sacramento County, California

County

County of Sacramento

Images, from top down, left to right: California State Capitol, Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park, Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sutter's Fort

Flag

Seal

Location in the state of California

United States

Region

Metro area

Greater Sacramento

Incorporated

February 18, 1850

Named for

The capital city of Sacramento, which is named for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

County seat (and largest city)

Sacramento

Government

• Type

Council–manager

• Body

Board of Supervisors

Area

• Total

994 sq mi (2,570 km²)

• Land

965 sq mi (2,500 km²)

• Water

29 sq mi (80 km²)

Highest elevation

831 ft (253 m)

Population

(April 1, 2020)

• Total

1,585,055

• Density

1,594.6/sq mi (615.69/km²)

Time zone

UTC−8 (Pacific Standard Time)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)

FIPS code

06-067

Sacramento County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,585,055. Its county seat is Sacramento, which has been the state capital of California since 1854.

Sacramento County is the central county of the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area. The county covers about 994 square miles (2,570 km²) in the northern portion of the Central Valley, on into Gold Country. Sacramento County extends from the low delta lands between the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, including Suisun Bay, north to about ten miles (16 km) beyond the State Capitol and east into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The southernmost portion of Sacramento County has direct access to San Francisco Bay.

History

Sacramento County was one of the original counties of California, which were created in 1850 at the time of statehood.

The county was named after the Sacramento River, which forms its western border. The river was named by Spanish cavalry officer Gabriel Moraga for the Santisimo Sacramento (Most Holy Sacrament), referring to the Catholic Eucharist.

Alexander Hamilton Willard, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, is buried in the old Franklin Cemetery.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 994 square miles (2,570 km²), of which 965 square miles (2,500 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (3.0%) is water. Most of the county is at an elevation close to sea level, with some areas below sea level. The highest point in the county is Carpenter Hill at 828 feet (252 m), in the southeast part of Folsom. Carpenter Hill is the lowest high point of any county in California. Major watercourses in the county include the American River, Sacramento River, Cosumnes River, a tributary of the Mokelumne River and Dry Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River.

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	9,087	—
1860	24,142	165.7%
1870	26,830	11.1%
1880	34,390	28.2%
1890	40,339	17.3%
1900	45,915	13.8%
1910	67,806	47.7%
1920	91,029	34.2%
1930	141,999	56.0%
1940	170,333	20.0%
1950	277,140	62.7%
1960	502,778	81.4%
1970	631,498	25.6%
1980	783,381	24.1%
1990	1,041,219	32.9%
2000	1,223,499	17.5%
2010	1,418,788	16.0%
2020	1,585,055	11.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

**Sacramento County, California - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	687,166	650,271	48.43%	41.03%
Black or African American alone (NH)	139,949	145,724	9.86%	9.19%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	7,875	7,432	0.56%	0.47%
Asian alone (NH)	198,944	276,295	14.02%	17.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	13,099	18,011	0.92%	1.14%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	3,418	10,104	0.24%	0.64%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	62,141	102,784	4.38%	6.48%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	306,196	374,434	21.58%	23.62%
Total	1,418,788	1,585,055	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2011

Population, ethnicity, and income
Total population	1,408,480
White	845,111	60.0%
Black or African American	144,018	10.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native	13,019	0.9%
Asian	201,766	14.3%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander	13,912	1.0%
Some other race	111,587	7.9%
Two or more races	79,067	5.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	298,709	21.2%
Per capita income	$27,180
Median household income	$56,553
Median family income	$65,720

Places by population, ethnicity, and income

Places by population and ethnicity
Place	Type	Population	White	Other	Asian	Black or African American	Native American	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Antelope	CDP	46,343	66.8%	10.5%	10.8%	10.4%	1.6%	13.7%
Arden-Arcade	CDP	91,132	73.4%	11.4%	5.5%	8.5%	1.2%	17.5%
Carmichael	CDP	61,710	82.0%	7.2%	5.1%	4.4%	1.3%	10.6%
Citrus Heights	City	84,112	82.2%	10.5%	2.7%	3.0%	1.6%	16.5%
Clay	CDP	1,188	68.5%	25.3%	6.2%	0.0%	0.0%	24.4%
Courtland	CDP	484	52.5%	44.6%	2.9%	0.0%	0.0%	80.8%
Elk Grove	City	146,537	44.3%	17.3%	25.2%	11.1%	2.1%	19.4%
Elverta	CDP	5,203	83.0%	8.6%	5.0%	1.1%	2.3%	10.4%
Fair Oaks	CDP	30,297	86.9%	5.9%	5.2%	1.5%	0.5%	9.3%
Florin	CDP	49,869	42.9%	13.2%	26.4%	14.4%	3.1%	30.8%
Folsom	City	70,564	71.6%	7.3%	13.4%	6.7%	1.1%	11.4%
Foothill Farms	CDP	32,798	68.1%	15.1%	5.0%	10.7%	1.1%	21.6%
Franklin	CDP	0	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Freeport	CDP	23	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Fruitridge Pocket	CDP	5,675	37.9%	21.3%	22.4%	15.0%	3.3%	43.5%
Galt	City	23,393	67.5%	26.3%	2.0%	2.7%	1.5%	38.5%
Gold River	CDP	8,272	71.5%	7.0%	18.2%	3.3%	0.0%	5.8%
Herald	CDP	1,019	93.3%	6.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	9.6%
Hood	CDP	206	78.2%	18.4%	3.4%	0.0%	0.0%	69.9%
Isleton	City	702	72.4%	16.0%	10.4%	1.3%	0.0%	40.3%
La Riviera	CDP	10,971	68.0%	12.3%	7.6%	11.4%	0.7%	16.8%
Lemon Hill	CDP	13,348	45.7%	22.2%	19.2%	9.5%	3.4%	46.2%
McClellan Park	CDP	946	35.1%	20.6%	26.7%	17.5%	0.0%	24.4%
Mather	CDP	4,650	54.8%	12.5%	16.9%	10.2%	5.5%	14.3%
North Highlands	CDP	42,888	62.0%	17.0%	4.5%	14.3%	2.3%	22.8%
Orangevale	CDP	33,733	88.0%	5.9%	2.8%	2.1%	1.1%	9.5%
Parkway	CDP	14,149	56.1%	14.2%	12.3%	16.6%	0.9%	44.7%
Rancho Cordova	City	64,072	62.7%	14.3%	12.5%	8.8%	1.7%	20.1%
Rancho Murieta	CDP	6,376	86.0%	4.8%	4.9%	4.2%	0.0%	6.0%
Rio Linda	CDP	14,366	76.1%	14.0%	5.7%	3.7%	0.6%	18.8%
Rosemont	CDP	23,020	62.7%	14.1%	10.1%	12.1%	1.0%	21.6%
Sacramento	City	463,537	49.3%	15.2%	19.1%	13.9%	2.5%	26.0%
Vineyard	CDP	25,993	47.3%	10.3%	28.2%	12.3%	1.9%	15.1%
Walnut Grove	CDP	1,294	62.1%	20.2%	17.2%	0.0%	0.5%	18.3%
Wilton	CDP	4,364	70.4%	13.8%	8.7%	1.0%	6.1%	17.0%
‡ Data for Sacramento County area of this CDP

Places by population and income
Place	Type	Population	Per capita income	Median household income	Median family income
Antelope	CDP	46,343	$25,932	$71,211	$73,392
Arden-Arcade	CDP	91,132	$32,263	$46,694	$64,453
Carmichael	CDP	61,710	$32,140	$53,686	$71,907
Citrus Heights	City	84,112	$25,778	$54,575	$64,473
Clay	CDP	1,188	$35,302	$99,635	$102,586
Courtland	CDP	484	$80,503	$46,705	$45,682
Elk Grove	City	146,537	$29,188	$78,564	$83,346
Elverta	CDP	5,203	$23,620	$66,435	$66,157
Fair Oaks	CDP	30,297	$40,601	$72,381	$90,982
Florin	CDP	49,869	$17,032	$43,441	$48,022
Folsom	City	70,564	$37,187	$95,143	$113,338
Foothill Farms	CDP	32,798	$20,591	$47,615	$47,439
Franklin	CDP	0
Freeport	CDP	23	$23,857	$43,250
Fruitridge Pocket	CDP	5,675	$11,800	$28,666	$30,417
Galt	City	23,393	$21,425	$59,125	$63,266
Gold River	CDP	8,272	$57,104	$112,111	$117,259
Herald	CDP	1,019	$28,500	$82,639	$83,194
Hood	CDP	206	$18,224	$48,214	$77,895
Isleton	City	702	$19,215	$30,795	$32,841
La Riviera	CDP	10,971	$29,193	$56,420	$60,721
Lemon Hill	CDP	13,348	$12,256	$29,958	$30,261
McClellan Park	CDP	946	$16,636	$44,531	$44,375
Mather	CDP	4,650	$32,276	$83,208	$81,310
North Highlands	CDP	42,888	$17,815	$41,774	$45,785
Orangevale	CDP	33,733	$31,102	$68,938	$77,341
Parkway	CDP	14,149	$17,268	$41,524	$42,445
Rancho Cordova	City	64,072	$24,967	$53,878	$60,122
Rancho Murieta	CDP	6,376	$52,821	$100,878	$112,284
Rio Linda	CDP	14,366	$23,808	$57,891	$69,136
Rosemont	CDP	23,020	$25,030	$56,314	$64,345
Sacramento	City	463,537	$25,744	$50,781	$57,192
Vineyard	CDP	25,993	$27,419	$76,449	$84,100
Walnut Grove	CDP	1,294	$34,296	$64,770	$80,385
Wilton	CDP	4,364	$35,280	$87,000	$107,404

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Sacramento County had a population of 1,418,788. The racial makeup of Sacramento County was 815,151 (57.5%) White, 200,228 (15.4%) African American, 14,308 (1.0%) Native American, 203,211 (14.3%) Asian, 13,858 (1.0%) Pacific Islander, 131,691 (9.3%) from other races, and 93,511 (6.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 306,196 persons (21.6%).

Population reported at 2010 United States Census
The County	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Sacramento County	1,418,788	815,151	147,058	14,308	203,211	13,858	131,691	93,511	306,196
Incorporated cities	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Citrus Heights	83,301	66,856	2,751	753	2,714	363	5,348	4,516	13,734
Elk Grove	153,015	70,478	20,172	965	40,261	1,807	10,231	12,101	27,581
Folsom	72,203	53,627	4,140	427	9,000	173	1,818	3,018	8,064
Galt	23,647	15,639	430	361	815	108	4,834	1,460	10,113
Isleton	804	542	10	10	41	4	139	58	316
Rancho Cordova	64,776	39,123	8,561	668	7,831	556	5,517	4,520	12,740
Sacramento	466,488	210,006	80,005	5,291	85,503	6,655	57,573	33,125	125,276
Census-designated places	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Antelope	45,770	29,200	4,039	402	6,090	407	2,284	3,348	6,635
Arden-Arcade	92,186	64,688	8,977	948	5,152	531	7,420	5,470	17,147
Carmichael	61,762	49,776	4,972	546	2,653	287	2,035	3,493	7,218
Clay	1,195	981	6	24	8	0	108	68	242
Courtland	355	247	0	6	4	0	75	23	200
Elverta	5,492	4,453	117	77	208	48	302	287	859
Fair Oaks	30,912	26,479	729	255	1,289	57	738	1,365	2,954
Florin	47,513	15,034	9,521	543	13,605	815	6,756	3,239	13,048
Foothill Farms	33,121	21,249	4,628	357	1,731	208	3,362	2,586	7,579
Franklin	155	119	0	0	5	0	20	11	42
Freeport	38	34	0	0	2	0	1	1	6
Fruitridge Pocket	5,800	1,704	1,047	105	1,113	67	1,317	447	2,345
Gold River	7,912	5,837	195	20	1,426	28	97	309	515
Herald	1,184	934	20	13	64	7	105	41	254
Hood	271	135	0	15	15	1	70	35	137
La Riviera	10,802	7,315	1,084	76	766	87	671	803	1,756
Lemon Hill	13,729	5,091	3,493	246	2,394	196	3,487	822	6,790
Mather	4,451	467	99	13	27	21	31	85	110
McClellan Park	743	2,477	393	42	850	84	267	338	704
North Highlands	45,794	27,000	6,003	603	2,067	300	4,709	3,132	10,077
Orangevale	33,960	29,679	463	316	1,040	75	879	1,508	3,448
Parkway	14,670	5,225	3,696	182	1,997	300	3,161	1,109	6,185
Rancho Murieta	5,488	4,874	130	33	158	6	81	206	425
Rio Linda	15,106	11,654	502	235	665	62	1,304	821	3,033
Rosemont	22,681	13,496	2,720	310	2,419	134	1,754	1,848	4,587
Vineyard	24,836	11,306	2,426	163	7,293	256	1,682	1,710	4,414
Walnut Grove	1,542	943	15	24	110	0	402	48	673
Wilton	5,363	4,234	169	45	289	13	343	270	683
Other unincorporated areas	Total Population	White	African American	Native American	Asian	Pacific Islander	other races	two or more races	Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
All others not CDPs (combined)	24,823	14,249	2,472	234	3,606	202	2,770	1,290	6,306

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,223,499 people, 453,602 households, and 297,562 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,267 people per square mile (489/km²). There were 474,814 housing units at an average density of 492/sq mi (190/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.0% White, 10.6% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 13.5% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 7.5% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. 19.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 10.2% were of German, 7.0% English, 6.7% Irish and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 75.7% spoke only English at home; 10.0% spoke Spanish, 1.5% Hmong, 1.4% Chinese or Mandarin, 1.3% Vietnamese, 1.2% Tagalog and 1.2% Russian.

There were 453,602 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,816, and the median income for a family was $50,717. Males had a median income of $39,482 versus $31,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,142. About 10.3% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Main page: Transportation in the Sacramento metropolitan area

Pocket-Greenhaven

Public Transportation

Sacramento Regional Transit District, also known as Sacramento RT, provides public transit throughout the county. It operates bus services, as well as light rail services on the Blue, Green, and Gold lines. In addition, the Yolobus provides Sacramento County with service connecting to destinations in neighboring Yolo County, such as Davis. Sacramento RT and Yolobus both provide bus services connecting Sacramento with Sacramento International Airport.

Amtrak and its Amtrak California subsidiary operate passenger rail service from the Sacramento Valley station. This station is served by the Coast Starlight, the California Zephyr, the Capitol Corridor, and the San Joaquins, which link the region with destinations across California and the United States.

Major highways

I-5
I-80
I-80 Bus.
US 50
SR 12
SR 16
SR 84
SR 99
SR 160

Airports

Sacramento International Airport is a major, full-service airport with passenger flights. It is owned by the County of Sacramento. The county also owns Sacramento Mather Airport in Rancho Cordova and Sacramento Executive Airport, both of which are general aviation airports. Sacramento McClellan Airport, formerly McClellan Air Force Base, is a privately owned airport between North Highlands and Rio Linda. There are also privately owned public use airports located in Elk Grove and Rio Linda.

Public roadways

The Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SACDOT) maintains approximately 2200 miles of roadway within the unincorporated area. The roads range from six lane thoroughfares to rural roads.

Communities

Elk Grove

Folsom Lake

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated community

Locke

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Sacramento County.

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Sacramento (State Capital)	City	466,488
2	Elk Grove	City	153,015
3	Arden-Arcade	CDP	92,186
4	Citrus Heights	City	83,301
5	Folsom	City	72,203
6	Rancho Cordova	City	64,776
7	Carmichael	CDP	61,762
8	Florin	CDP	47,513
9	Antelope	CDP	45,770
10	North Highlands	CDP	42,694
11	Orangevale	CDP	33,960
12	Foothill Farms	CDP	33,121
13	Fair Oaks	CDP	30,912
14	Vineyard	CDP	24,836
15	Galt	City	23,647
16	Rosemont	CDP	22,681
17	Rio Linda	CDP	15,106
18	Parkway	CDP	14,670
19	Lemon Hill	CDP	13,729
20	La Riviera	CDP	10,802
21	Gold River	CDP	7,912
22	Fruitridge Pocket	CDP	5,800
23	Elverta	CDP	5,492
24	Rancho Murieta	CDP	5,488
25	Wilton	CDP	5,363
26	Mather	CDP	4,451
27	Walnut Grove	CDP	1,542
28	Clay	CDP	1,195
29	Herald	CDP	1,184
30	Isleton	City	804
31	McClellan Park	CDP	743
32	Courtland	CDP	355
33	Hood	CDP	271
34	Franklin	CDP	155
35	Freeport	CDP	38

Education

Colleges and universities

Public schools

California State University Sacramento
UC Davis Extension
- UC Davis School of Medicine
- UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing

Community colleges

Los Rios Community College District
- American River College
- Cosumnes River College
- Folsom Lake College
- Sacramento City College
Sierra College

Private, not for profit

University of the Pacific in Sacramento
National University Sacramento Regional Campus
University of San Francisco Regional Campus
University of Southern California Extension
Western Seminary
Epic Bible College

Private, for profit

Alliant International University
California Northstate University College of Pharmacy
Chamberlain University Rancho Cordova
DeVry University
Lincoln Law School of Sacramento
MTI College
Professional School of Psychology
San Joaquin Valley College
The Art Institute of California – Sacramento, a branch of The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles
Universal Technical Institute
University of Phoenix Sacramento Valley

Images for kids

Sacramento
1885 map showing the boundaries of the county's 14 civil townships